News Desk

BRUSSELS: The European Commission on Tuesday welcomed the agreement reached between the regional bloc’s parliament and the council to relax the visa rules for workers coming to the continent to work as skilled labourers.

The new rules have been changed under the revised Blue Card Directive.

The new scheme will introduce efficient rules for attracting highly skilled workers to the EU, including more flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights, and the possibility to move and work more easily between the EU member states.

A press release issued by the commission said that the agreement on the revised Blue Card is a “key objective” of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

“Today’s agreement gives the EU a modern, targeted legal migration scheme that will allow us to respond to skills shortages and make it easier for highly skilled professionals to join our workforce,” said Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas on the changes.

Schinas said that the card will help “sustain economic growth, respond to labour market needs and increase productivity” of the regional bloc so it can bounce back strongly after the coronavirus pandemic.

“This agreement on a key migration file also shows that, by working together, the EU can equip itself with a future-proof migration system,” said the EU official.

On the other hand, the EU’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson noted that migrant workers make an important contribution to the bloc’s economy.

But she explained that there was a need to change the law as the EU is heading towards a “shrinking, ageing society”.

“Today’s agreement is a key element of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum that will allow us to normalise our migration policy. New rules will make it easier to work and move within the EU and will recognise the potential of highly skilled workers from diverse backgrounds, including beneficiaries of international protection,” remarked Johansson.

New changes

To obtain an EU Blue Card, the salary threshold will be reduced to between 1 and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary. The new rules will also reduce the minimum duration of a contract of employment to 6 months.

The press release said that the changes will also help in facilitating “recognition of professional skills for occupations in the information and communication technologies sector”.

“Applicants with professional experience equivalent to a higher education qualification in some specific sectors will also be eligible to apply,” said the press release.

Under the new rules during the first 12 months, EU Blue Card holders will only need to complete a new labour market test if they wish to change position or employer.

“Only after this period, EU Blue Card holders may be subject to an obligation to notify a change in their situation to the relevant national authorities,” read the press release.

The statement also said that highly skilled beneficiaries of international protection will be allowed to apply for an EU Blue Card.

The new law also states that the EU will now allow EU Blue Card holders to bring their family to the country they will be working in and also allows them to access the EU labour market.

The new rules also ease up the Intra-EU mobility for the Blue Card holders. Now the cardholders and their family members will be able to move to a second member state based on simplified mobility rules after 12 months of employment in the first country.

“Periods of time spent working in different member states will also be taken into account, facilitating easier access to the EU long-term resident status,” said the statement.

Even though the rules have been agreed by the Parliament and the council they still need to be confirmed formally by adopting the EU Blue Card Directive.

“Once the directive is formally adopted, member states will have two years to transpose the rules into national law,” said the statement.

Central Asia has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. The positive trends observed in the region have affected almost all spheres – from political and economic to cultural and humanitarian. The formation of a new political climate in Central Asia is evidenced by the increased contacts between heads of state, the growth of trade volumes, and the implementation of large joint projects.

From the first days of his presidency, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, outlining the continuity of the foreign policy course, defined Central Asia, which is associated with the vital interests of Uzbekistan, as a priority of the country’s foreign policy. This approach is reflected in many strategic documents, initiatives and steps taken. The issues of cooperation with the closest neighbors traditionally occupy a special place in the annual messages of the head of state to the OliyMajlis.

As a result of the establishment of strategic cooperation with Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the deepening of strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, a completely new political atmosphere based on mutual trust and good neighborliness has formed in the region.

The regional course of the head of Uzbekistan is a symbol of renewal not only of the foreign policy of Tashkent, but of the whole of Central Asia. Moreover, this is an example of transformation of relationships based on the following approaches.

First, there are no unsolvable problems, there is a need for political will to resolve them. The principle of “discussing acute issues and finding reasonable compromises” made it possible to solve a number of regional problems on the basis of consistency and consideration of mutual interests. Unprecedented results have been achieved in resolving such sensitive issues as borders and the use of the region’s water and energy resources.

Uzbekistan has begun to demarcate the border with Kazakhstan. In 2017, a historic document was signed – “Agreement on the area of the junction point of the state borders of three states – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan”, which made it possible to resolve an issue that was considered problematic for many years. A serious step in ensuring security and stability in the region was the agreements reached during the visit of Kyrgyz President S. Japarov to Uzbekistan (March this year), according to which the parties agreed to complete the legal registration of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border in the near future.

Despite the existing problems, Uzbekistan, together with its neighbors, is making every effort to turn interstate borders into bridges of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation.

So in April this year, on the Kazakh-Uzbek border near the checkpoints “ZhibekZholy” (Kazakhstan) and “GishtKuprik” (Uzbekistan), a ceremony was held to launch the construction of the International Center for Trade and Economic Cooperation “Central Asia”. The center with a total area of 400 hectares, with a throughput capacity of 35 thousand people. and 5 thousand trucks per day in both directions is intended to become a major industrial, trade and logistics platform for the implementation of joint investment projects in such promising areas as the agro-industrial complex, light industry and manufacturing sector.

On 23 April 2021, on the initiative of Uzbekistan, a business forum “Border Integration – the Key to Development” was held in Ferghana. Along with the heads of the border regions – Batken (Kyrgyzstan), Sughd (Tajikistan) and Ferghana (Uzbekistan), representatives of local industrial and agricultural enterprises took part in the event. The holding of the business forum can be safely regarded as a significant achievement in improving economic ties between the border regions of the three countries.

In addition, the parties are taking steps to deepen regional cooperation in the field of water use. A working group has been created to develop proposals on all areas of water relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The Regulations are being developed on the establishment of a joint bilateral water management commission with Kyrgyzstan in order to achieve a constructive solution on the issues of the water and energy sector. Interaction with Turkmenistan is fruitfully developing within the framework of a trilateral working group with the participation of the Amu Darya basin water management organization.

Practical measures are being developed to launch the full-fledged operation of a single energy ring in Central Asia. An agreement was reached with Kyrgyzstan on mutual supplies of electricity in the amount of up to 750 million kWh. “At a conditional price” per 1 kWh, which will allow filling the Toktogul reservoir and providing Uzbekistan with water during the growing season 2021-2023.

The planned jointly with Tajikistan construction of two 320 MW HPPs on the Zarafshan River is an important step in regional cooperation in the use of transboundary water resources. In addition, Tashkent has shown its readiness to participate in projects for the construction of the Kambar-Ata and Rogun hydroelectric power plants.

According to the World Bank, improving the use of hydropower potential and joint planning of capacity reserves in the region in 2020-2030. can bring CA countries up to US$6.4 billion in economic benefits.

Secondly, a consolidated and predictable Central Asia is becoming more attractive in economic and investment terms.

The total GDP of the countries of the region grew from US$253 billion in 2016 to US$302.8 billion in 2019. In the context of a pandemic, this indicator at the end of 2020 decreased by only 2.5%, amounting to US$295.1 billion. At the same time, the intraregional trade showed impressive indicators. The total volume of foreign trade of the region in 2016-2019 grew by 56%, reaching US$168.2 billion.

For 2016-2019 FDI inflows to the region increased by 40%, amounting to US$37.6 billion. As a result, the share of investments in Central Asia in the total volume in the world increased from 1.6% to 2.5%. At the same time, according to forecasts of analysts of the international company Boston Consalting Group (BCG), over the next 10 years the region can attract up to US$170 billion of foreign investments, incl. 40-70 billion dollars – in non-resource sectors.

At the same time, there is an intensification of cooperation between the countries of the region themselves. Thus, within the framework of industrial cooperation in the city of Kostanay (Kazakhstan), a joint production of Uzbek cars of the “Ravon” brand has been established. LLC “Krantas group” (Uzbekistan) and the Aluminum company “Talko” (Tajikistan) jointly created a special equipment plant “Talko-Krantas”. In March of this year, following the visit of S. Japarov to Uzbekistan, a plan of practical measures was drawn up to expand and deepen cooperation in the field of industrial cooperation in the implementation of 60 projects worth US$550.4 million. An agreement was reached to create an Uzbek-Kyrgyz development fund with an authorized capital of US$50 million with a subsequent increase to US$200 million

Investment cooperation of Uzbekistan with the Central Asian countries is also actively increasing. So, from the end of 2017 to November 2020, the number of registered enterprises with capital in Kazakhstan increased from 281 to 896 units, Kyrgyzstan – from 57 to 175 units, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – to 178 and 140 units, respectively. Uzbek capital also began to actively participate in neighboring countries. In particular, a textile factory has been opened in Kazakhstan, and a joint production of household appliances has been launched in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The concentration of the integration efforts of the Central Asian countries into the system of international transport corridors is especially noted. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan resumed air traffic, restored the Galaba-Amuzang-Khushadi railway. Thanks to the efforts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the Turkmenabad-Farab railway and road bridges have been built, providing the Central Asian countries with the shortest access to the markets of the Near and Middle East.

Work on the construction of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway has been intensified. In June 2020, the first train on multimodal transit was launched on the Lanzhou-Kashgar-Irkeshtam-Osh-Andijan-Tashkent-Mary route. The implementation of these projects will significantly increase the geo-economic attractiveness of Central Asia as an important transit and communication hub between East and West.

The tourism potential of the region is being revealed. The number of travelers in Central Asia in 2016-2019 almost doubled – from 9.5 to 18.4 million people. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, foreign tourist flow to Uzbekistan increased by 27.3%, to Kazakhstan – by 10%. One of the world’s largest publications, Lonely Planet, called Central Asia a “promising region to visit in 2020”. Experts associate the positive dynamics with the facilitation of visa policies in almost all countries of the region, as well as with the “high-speed reforms” of Uzbekistan in the tourism sector.

Third, the awareness of the community of interests strengthens the perception of the region as an integral, consolidated player. The symbol of this pragmatic approach was the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, initiated by President Sh.Mirziyoyev.

During the Consultative Meetings (2018, 2019), the main aspects of mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed, such as the development of transit and transport potential, rational use of water and energy resources, cultural interaction and strengthening regional security. During the second Consultative Meeting (November 2019, Tashkent), a serious achievement was the adoption of a Joint Statement, in which the Central Asian countries confirmed their determination to comprehensively deepen regional cooperation, strengthen the existing relations of friendship, good-neighborliness and strategic partnership.

All this gives confidence that through joint efforts the leaders of the Central Asian countries can independently ensure stability in the region, resolve all controversial issues peacefully in an open and trusting dialogue.

For example, close interaction between the governments and heads of the border regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan made it possible to solve the problem of the consequences of the breakthrough of the Sardobin reservoir (May 2020) in accordance with the norms of agreements on eternal friendship, strategic partnership and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.

The immediate reaction of the local administrations of Ferghana and Batken regions to the conflict situation in the Sokh region of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, as well as the political will shown during the negotiations, contributed to the rapid establishment of control over the situation and neutralization of growing tensions (May-June 2020).

Direct contacts between the heads of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as the measures taken to transfer the process into a political and diplomatic channel, made it possible to avoid further escalation of the conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border (May this year).

The leaders of neighboring countries made a significant contribution to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Thus, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held repeated telephone conversations with the heads of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, urging them to resolve the problem exclusively through negotiations in the spirit of friendship and good-neighborliness.

In turn, the President of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev, also stressing the importance of resolving all controversial issues exclusively by negotiation, spoke in favor of developing a mechanism for resolving border incidents within the framework of the next Consultative meeting of the heads of states of Central Asia.

This reaffirmed that this format appears to be an efficient and effective regional dialogue platform for confidential, constructive and open discussion of topical issues of regional cooperation and solving common problems of the CA countries.

Another evidence of the formation of a peaceful and friendly atmosphere in the region is the preparation of the first in the history of the region five-sided document on friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation in Central Asia in the 21st century. Until now, such agreements were concluded only on a bilateral basis. This synchronization of efforts and approaches of the Central Asian countries is a weighty response to many challenges.

Fourth, the trend towards regional rapprochement was positively assessed and supported by the world community. In June 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a special resolution “Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region”, which became one of the important guidelines that determine the conceptual vectors of regional cooperation.

The adoption of this document is the implementation of the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan announced at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (September 2017). According to the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative N. Herman, the resolution made a significant contribution to strengthening trust between the countries of the region, becoming a truly historic document representing a common vision for the sustainable development of Central Asian countries. In addition, the document emphasizes the importance of deepening bilateral and regional cooperation in the integrated rational use of water and energy resources, the implementation of transport and transit potential, the development of tourism and cultural and humanitarian interaction.

External partners gradually developed an understanding that stimulating regional interaction opens up new opportunities for the implementation of promising projects in Central Asia.

This is confirmed by the intensification of the regional approach in building relationships of other actors with the countries of the region. According to B. Yaroshevich, Head of the Central Asia Unit of the European External Relations Service, the European Union, having recognized the new dynamics of regional cooperation in Central Asia, has actively restructured its foreign policy taking into account the new realities in the region. As a result, in June 2019, the European Union adopted a new strategy for Central Asia.

According to experts, the adoption of the new EU Strategy for Central Asia and the Strategy for the Development of Interconnectedness between Europe and Asia testifies to the firm intention of the European Union to move to the practical implementation of the existing potential of mutually beneficial multilateral cooperation both in Central Asia and between the EU and the CA region. According to the estimates of the authorized representative of the Foundation. K. Adenauer on Central Asia R. Heine, the key role in strengthening these trends is played by the regional rapprochement of the Central Asian states and the improvement of the general climate of political relations in the region.

In February 2020, the United States for the first time adopted a separate Strategy for the Central Asian region “Strengthening Sovereignty and Economic Prosperity”. One of the most important elements of the newly adopted strategy is the fact that “support and strengthening of the sovereignty and independence of the Central Asian states, both individually and within the entire region,” is defined as a political goal. According to analysts, Washington recognizes the formation of a new environment in Central Asia – a regional one – with such a statement.

According to R. Hoagland, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Caspian Political Center, the new strategy includes subtle changes in American policy that take into account the current realities of the development of the situation in this strategically important region of the world. Moreover, according to him, this document can be seen as a significant “victory” for the countries of Central Asia, since it states the continued full participation and assistance of Washington in an era when the United States backs away from its obligations in other parts of the world.

In October 2020, the foreign ministers of the Central Asian countries and Russia met for the first time in the Central Asia + Russia format, which resulted in the adoption of a Joint Statement on Strategic Directions of Cooperation. In the document, the parties expressed agreement in such areas as the political and diplomatic sphere, security, trade and economic relations, transport links, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change, energy, sanitary and epidemiological situation, migration and humanitarian spheres. At the same time, it is noted that the participating countries will make efforts to establish regular and multi-level consultations between the foreign ministries of the countries to discuss topical issues of the global and regional agendas during regular meetings of the CA + 1 format, as well as, as necessary, within the framework of joint events at the sites of the CIS, UN and OSCE.

According to Russian analysts, today Russia is systematically interacting with some countries in the region within the framework of the CSTO or the EAEU. However, only the new Central Asia + Russia format appears to be the platform where the Russian Federation can interact with all Central Asian countries. So far, this format is not an institutional instrument and does not have a fixed organizational structure. However, it allows you to “compare notes” and discuss regional risks and challenges.

The regional approach was reflected in Beijing’s new approach to the region. In July 2020, a meeting of foreign ministers was held in the “Central Asia – China” format. Previously, the regional dialogue was held annually on the basis of multilevel meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. So, over the years, 7 forums of cooperation between China and Central Asia have been held in different provinces of the PRC, which were organized by the Chinese Committee of the SCO for Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. Representatives of government agencies, businessmen, experts and journalists took part in its work.

As observers note, the organization of a separate dialogue platform “Central Asia-China” has become in demand, on the one hand, due to the need to create a fully independent platform of the Central Asian countries and China, on the other, as a result of improved cooperation within Central Asia itself. Regular meetings of leaders of states since 2018 and a course of rapprochement create a favorable basis for Beijing’s regional initiative.

Thus, the trends and achievements of the past few years indicate that Central Asia is transforming. A new political climate is being shaped here, which is characterized by a significant strengthening of unity and cohesion. The joint efforts of the countries contribute to the formation of Central Asia as a stable, open and steadily developing region, a promising predictable international partner.

The countries of the region have demonstrated their ability to independently resolve existing problematic issues and contradictions without the intervention and involvement of external forces. Our common and, of course, priority task is to ensure sustainable development, stability and prosperity in the Central Asian region.

At the same time, the ongoing processes contributed to the formation of a new vision of Central Asia by external partners as an integral region, and not as separate states.

The attention to Central Asia is growing in the world, the interest of leading states and international financial institutions in supporting joint initiatives of the states of the region is increasing. In this regard, the region, and Tashkent, in particular, has unique opportunities to change the current situation, to determine development trends not only within the region, but also outside it.

AkramjonNematov,

First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chief Researcher of the Institute for Strategic

Lobar Umarova,

Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

ANKARA, May 18 (DNA): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who is in Turkey has said that contacts are being established with different countries to get stopped the Israeli persecution of Palestinians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Minister said the Muslims residing in European countries must also play their role in this regard.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the bombardment in Palestine has resulted in power outage and affected the supplies of essential commodities. He said it will be lamentable if the international community remained silent on the Palestinian situation.

The Foreign Minister said Israel is further complicating the matter and its bombardment is making it impossible for the Palestinians to access the healthcare facilities.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said hurdles are being created so that the Palestinian Foreign Minister could not attend the UN General Assembly session. He said we will wait for the Palestinian Foreign Minister and want him to accompany us for the session.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi on Tuesday reached Ankara on an extensive diplomatic mission to attract the world attention towards the deplorable situation in Palestine where Israeli airstrikes hammered the Gaza Strip killing more than 200 people.

The foreign minister was received by Deputy Governor Ankara Ismail Catklii and Pakistan’s ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi at Ankara Airport.

FM Qureshi will leave for New York along with the foreign ministers of Sudan, Palestine and Turkey.  He will hold meetings with important personalities in New York.

In New York, he will speak at the United Nations General Assembly session, meet various dignitaries and hold talks with local and international media representatives and present Pakistan’s views on the situation in Palestine.

Meanwhile, talking to different Pakistani television channel on phone, the foreign minister said, that the attempts were being made to keep the Palestinian FM from the UNGA session. He said as the session was convened to discuss the plight of the Palestinian people, so the debate should be opened by Palestinian foreign minister.

Qureshi said their delegation would await the Palestinian FM to join them in Istanbul. He said around 65 million Muslims living in Western countries would have to play a role to seek support for the suffering Palestinian people. He said the next 48 hours would be critical and any wrong step would not be in the interest of the Palestinian people.

The foreign minister also called for media to play an active role to awaken the world to the Israeli aggression against the defenceless people in Palestine.

To a question, he said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was also playing its part and many other countries too had activated considering the seriousness of the situation. He said the UN General Assembly session was convened after the UN Security Council could not evolve consensus. He said being the most important body, the UNSC was responsible for peace and security in the region as well as the world.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan had a very clear viewpoint on the issue who, he said, called him and said “go all out” for it being an issue of the faith as the Israeli forces attacked Qibla-e-Awal which was symbol of oneness.

To a question, the foreign minister said the situation was evolving and in diplomacy, disappointment was never allowed to dominate rather the challenge was taken as an opportunity. DNA

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ANKARA – Turkey, with its entire population of 84 million, will continue to watch as events unfold in Jerusalem, the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared on Monday.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan called on the UN, UN Security Council, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other international organizations to act against the oppression of Palestinians, as well as on the issue of Jerusalem.

“At this point, we believe there’s a need for a separate arrangement on Jerusalem. To achieve lasting peace and tranquility in Jerusalem, which contains the indispensable religious symbols of Muslims, Jews, and Christians, everyone must make sacrifices,” Erdoğan said.

“In today’s circumstances, it would be the most correct and consistent course of action for Jerusalem to be administered by a commission of representatives from the three faiths. Otherwise, it doesn’t appear it will be easily possible to achieve lasting peace in this ancient city,” he added.

He said that Turkey would lend its political and military support for international efforts to liberate Jerusalem and protect the Palestinian people.

Accusing Israel of being a “terrorist state” and violating Jerusalem, seen as holy by these three faiths, he also said it was “ruthlessly” bombing civilians in Gaza.

“This terror state, that has encroached on the privacy of Jerusalem on the one hand, while ruthlessly bombarding civilians in Gaza and leveling a colossal building housing media groups on the other, is Israel,” said Erdoğan.

“But, you [Israel] are using disproportionate force, and you are dropping bombs on Gaza with your warplanes. Does Gaza have warplanes? No. Yours are countless, with which you strike.”

Erdogan said that those supporting Israeli actions in Jerusalem and Gaza would go down in history as being complicit in child murder and crimes against humanity.

“The declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the US and other countries following it towards the end of 2017 has increased the appetite of this murderous state to spill blood,” Erdoğan said.

“Those who have no interest in the deaths of Palestinian children by bombs are terrified that Israeli children are frightened by the sound of missiles. Look at this! One should remain silent when children are put to sleep, not being killed,” he said.

MOSCOW – Russia is ready to organize direct Palestinian-Israeli talks to de-escalate rising tensions between the two sides, Russian foreign minister said on Monday.

Addressing a news conference in Moscow after a meeting with his Sierra Leone counterpart David John Francis, Sergey Lavrov called on the Israelis and Palestinians to stop fighting.

“In order for direct negotiations — and only through them can we agree on the creation of a Palestinian state that will live in peace and security, in accordance with the decisions of the UN Security Council, side by side with Israel and other countries in the region, — in order for such negotiations to begin, it is necessary to stop violence on all sides,” he said.

Lavrov recalled that UN resolutions on the Palestinian problem provide for the two-state solution to the Palestinian problem, the status quo of Jerusalem‘s holy places, and strictly prohibit illegal Israeli activities.

“We condemn attacks from both sides, targeting residential areas. Strikes against civilian targets are unacceptable,” Lavrov said.

The minister also condemned the Israeli settlement activities, saying: “It is taking such extreme forms as throwing people out on the street”.

“We believe that the international community must not be indifferent to what is happening. There is the quartet [on the Middle East] of international mediators who are directly obliged to contribute to the solution of the Palestinian question,” he said.

The minister added that the UN Security Council “sent all necessary signals” after Sunday’s meeting, and that “now everything depends on the parties’ ability to negotiate and their goodwill.”

“We will help them find agreements both to calm the current very hot phase of the conflict and to start negotiations as soon as possible,” he said.

Francis said Sierra Leone considers that “a reliable and lasting peace” to the Palestinian problem is only possible through political negotiations and the establishment of two states.

“It should be two states — Israel and Palestine — that live side by side in peace and security, that is our position,” he said.

The Israeli military has staged airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since May 10, killing at least 200 Palestinians including women and children, and leaving behind a massive trail of destruction across the territory. Media offices and health centers and are among the structures targeted.